About Us
The top universities and higher education providers cannot provide a personalised experience for each learner, and that’s where we make a difference! At OBS we know how you like to learn, when to learn, and most importantly how your industry is changing and the impact of those changes on your learning to make it current and relevant. We have a technology that allows us to achieve it and we provide study expeditions and residential in the UK where you practice applying skills in new business contexts.
OBS is providing personalised learning to develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills that every learner needs to solve the most complex challenges that we are facing. We use technology to provide the flexibility and bring our learnings together to exchange their innovative ideas and thoughts for collective benefits.
With our proprietary online learning platform, we deliver targeted educational content accessible via any device and curated by lecturers from the world’s top universities. Using the principles of human cognitive learning, our platform aggregates the preferences of each individual learner to potentiate and enrich their learning experience.
We employ case-study and project-led learning models. As part of the onboarding process, all learners get an integrated learning profile assessment and receive ongoing coaching. Additionally, Oxademy Entrepreneurs Hub - an exclusive and secure digital crowdfunding platform - gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to our dedicated "Investors Panel" to procure advice and secure investment finance.
As an academic institute, we are deeply principled and our mission is to focus on Pedagogy, Flexibility, Technology, and Value.
MBA
Master of Business Administration
Get a highly-ranked MBA from anywhere while you work and be rewarded with a life-changing learning experience and expanded career options. This flexible MBA programme emphasises the practical applications of business theory through real-life case studies, collaborative projects and study excursions.
An MBA is a globally recognised Master's degree designed for ambitious and motivated individuals. This flexible and transformational programme focuses on developing leadership skills for professionals who are ready to thrive in today’s complex business environment. The MBA candidates will realise their business potential, learn new specialised skills and engage with a vast global network whilst living and working in their own environment. Our MBA combines our innovative pedagogy and technology to deliver a degree which:
- Blends academic rigour with commercial relevance
- Provides a solid business grounding through the taught modules
- Offers world-leading pedagogy through the AI-driven platform
- Delivers hybrid, blended learning, with interactivity and convenience
- Transforms intellectual engagement into corporate practice
The MBA comprises three compulsory taught modules with multiple advanced topics that develop core business competencies. Tailored specialisation is introduced through the choice of one optional taught specialisation module. These modules are supplemented at the end of the MBA by a Research Methods taught module and an individual Research Project which enable students to apply the insights of the taught modules to their own corporate context through an extended piece of research.
We offer the following four unique MBA specialisations:
This taught MBA with specialisation in Cybersecurity Management is designed for those professionals who wish to gain a more detailed understanding of the technical skills and expertise relevant to the technical implementation and leadership of the cybersecurity function. This programme focuses on the knowledge and tools needed to combat the growing threats to the digital world, cyber-attacks, breaches and how to counter them. The course covers the following topics:
- Introduction to Cybersecurity
- Security Risk Assessment Techniques and Management
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Aligning Cyber Strategy with Business Strategy
- Secure Target Operating Model STOM™
- Cybersecurity Technologies and Security Mechanisms
- Cyber Audit
- Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues
This taught MBA with specialisation in Islamic Finance and Economics offers an opportunity to study the principles and structure of the Islamic Finance and Economy, including its theoretical foundations, products, instruments and risk management issues. In addition to the core modules covering concepts of marketing, strategy, and leadership, the following topics are covered to develop leaders with the capacity to progress quickly to senior positions in institutions that transact banking business on Islamic principles:
- Fundamental concepts of Islamic Finance and Economy
- Comparison of conventional and Islamic Finance
- Introduction to Islamic Capital Markets
- Islamic banking and Insurance
- Credit and Operational Risks
- Market Risks in Islamic Finance
This taught MBA with specialisation in Negotiation and Conflict Management is designed to present the art and science of addressing disputes and securing agreements. This programme enables the student to analyse, interpret and understand causes of conflict in the workplace. The following topics are covered:
- Theories and Frameworks of Leadership Styles and Conflict Management
- Strategy Development and Stakeholder Mapping
- Communication and Listening Skills for Effective Negotiations
- Conflict and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Conflict Styles and Negotiation Strategies and Situations
- Frameworks for Collaborative Negotiations
- Behavioural Economics in Negotiation and Conflict Management: Heuristics and Biases
This taught MBA with specialisation in Leadership and Strategic Management offers an opportunity to combine business expertise with the interpersonal skills needed for effective leadership and management. The programme focuses on critical thinking skills, the development of organisational goals and the establishment of values for a strong corporate culture. The MBA provides students with workplace-based research opportunities throughout their degree. The following specialist topics are covered to improve your influence, impact and ability to make things happen:
- Introduction to Leadership Theory
- Leadership and Management Styles
- Strategic Management Theories
- Role of Strategic Managers
- Managing People in Organisations
- Introduction to Leadership Theory
- Relationship between Leadership and Strategic Management
- Emotional Intelligence
Key Details
- Duration: 18-60 months
- Next Start: Every month
- Format: Blended or Guided-online (optional learning expedition)
- Degree: 1st or a 2.1 in any degree subject*
- Working Experience: 5 years**
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in each component)
- Fees: £12,000☨
- Enrolment Fee: £250
Email Brochure- * In exceptional circumstances, candidates without or a lower degree level, equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience may be admitted if they can demonstrate their potential for higher degree work. Contact us for more information.
- ** GMAT or GRE score report if you have fewer than five years of professional experience.
- ☨Bursaries are available in circumstances of particular financial need. Fee does not include Study Expedition cost.
Global Leadership Development Programme
Designed for existing and aspiring leaders, this 10-week live-online interactive leadership programme offers a unique blend of thought leadership, practical application and personal development that equips professionals to make a significant impact in their organisations and projects.
The GLDP is designed to cover a range of critical areas including Action-Centred Leadership (ACL), Strategic Visioning, Ethical Leadership and Emotional-Spiritual Intelligence. This programme helps delegates discover their own authentic leadership style and improve their ability to lead projects effectively. Delegates also benefit from innovative leadership development tools such as the Leadership Type Indicator (LTI) and an Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ). Ultimately, the gldp strengthens students' ability to lead with credibility, drive change, and deliver results in increasingly complex environments. Two certificates are awarded on completion: one from Adair International confirming completion of the ACL element of the programme and one from OBS attesting to the full completion.
What you can expect:
- Gain an enhanced understanding of leadership by challenging your preconceived notions of what leadership means, and whether it is nature or nurture.
- Discover and develop your own authentic style of leadership mapped against our 11 authentic leadership qualities framework.
- Strengthen your ability to lead with credibility, drive change and deliver results in increasingly competitive and complex environments.
- Improve your understanding of the motivations and attitudes that drive you and others, connect those drivers to corporate objectives and ultimately become a more purposeful and effective leader.
- Gain increased emotional and spiritual intelligence, increasing ones influence and ability to lead and inspire people to transform themselves and their work.
Who should attend:
- Highly motivated professionals from around the world who crave an intense, immersive learning experience from a leading British Programme.
- Professionals who are committed to driving change in their organisations.
- Aspiring leaders from large and small companies who are keen to develop authentic leadership ability in today’s uncertain world.
Key Details
- Duration: 10 Weeks
- Next start: Aug 2019
- Format: Part-time
- Working experience: 5 years (min)*
- Fees: £2,950
- Location: Guided-Online
- * You must be in a managerial post for at least five years or more.
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Undertaking a PhD allows you to explore a specific area of your chosen subject in depth. A PhD is the highest research degree-level qualification and therefore takes the longest to complete. A supervisor/supervisors will help you to navigate your topic, offering expert advice on the direction of your research.
The PhD is a degree examined only by a thesis, and candidates must take special requirement courses as a coursework requirement.
These courses are to be completed within the first year of the programme. Candidates must pass all the special requirement courses
before they can proceed to the thesis.
PhD candidates are encouraged to develop their topic under their research project with
the guidance of their supervisors, who are experts in their field of research. Candidates are also encouraged to attend online
lectures and participate in research forums and online seminars. As part of a PhD, learners are strongly encouraged to undertake
fieldwork.
Supervision: For this course, the allocation of supervision is the responsibility of IIUM.
All learners are provided online supervision with access to an innovative research management platform called Qurra.
Assessment: On registration as a doctoral student, you are expected to prepare and submit a thesis proposal for defense with the guidance of the thesis advisory committee within the prescribed period.
Upon successful defense, the doctoral student is now a candidate to undertake and complete the research for final submission for viva voce' to both internal and external examiners. Following the viva voce, one of the following recommendations will be made:
- Pass - PhD completed
- Pass with minor revisions to be completed in six (6) months
- Pass with major revisions to be completed within the minimum period of six (6) to maximum period of twelve (12) months
- Resubmission with viva to be completed within the minimum period of twelve (12) to maximum period of eighteen (18) months
- Failure
IIUM-OBS is offering the following three PhD programmes:
Doctor of Philosophy (Islamic Banking and Finance) is awarded to graduates for a meaningful completion of doctoral research that advances the theory and principles of Islamic Banking and Finance from inter-disciplinary perspectives. Upon completion of a multi-disciplinary doctoral programme, the graduate is expected to undertake independent research and contribute to quality publications in their field of expertise.
Programme Objectives:- To attract and train high potential talent in Islamic Banking and Finance
- To further develop and enhance the theory and practice of Islamic Banking and Finance
- To meet the global demand for expertise in Islamic Banking and Finance industry
- Fiqh Muamalat in Islamic Banking and Finance
- Islamic Banking and Finance Law
- Performance and Efficiency of Islamic Banks and Takaful
- Economics Policy and Analysis of Islamic Banking and Finance
- Regulatory and Governance
- Takaful and Re-Takaful
- Investment Banking
- Islamic Wealth Management
- Islamic Capital Market
- Islamic Micro-Credit and Micro-Financing
- Corporate and Shari'ah Governance for Islamic Banking and Finance
- Waqf
- Risk Management
- Research Methodology
- Contemporary Issues in Islamic Finance
The aim of this PhD is to offer graduates of different disciplines an opportunity to acquire knowledge and practice in the broad field of research and innovation in halal industry. The objectives of the course is to cater for a higher level of demand in terms of comprehensive knowledge in the halal industry, and to provide an opportunity for national and international graduates to pursue Doctor of Philosophy (Halal Industry).
Required academic courses for graduation:- Research Methodology
- Seminar
- Research
- Values, Technology and Society*
- Advances Study on Legal and Administrative Control*
- Halal Industry and Advanced Technique Analysis*
- Fiqh 1 for Halal Industry Products and Services*
- Fiqh 2 for Halal Industry Products and Services*
* Course to be completed if they have not taken at Master level.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Arabic Studies is a full time and a part-time course that requires 3 to 5 years (full time) and 5 to 8 years (part time) to complete. Each candidates will be trained in research methods, Islamisation of knowledge and a specialised area in history to prepare them for the challenging task of producing original research in the form of a thesis. The expected length of the thesis is 80,000 - 100,000 words and must be written in Arabic. Areas in which the candidates can specialise include theoretical and applied linguistics, syntax, morphology, semantics, lexicography and translation studies. The PhD comprises of two compulsory modules. These modules are supplemented at the end of the PhD by a Research Proposal and an individual Thesis which enable students to apply the insights of the taught modules.
- Research Methodology (Arabic)
- Islamisation of Knowledge (Arabic)
- Research Proposal
- Thesis
Key Details
- Duration: Full-time 3 to 6 years | Part-time 5 to 8 years
- Intakes: Feb, Jul, Oct
- Format: Guided-online with access to research management platform
- Language: English and Arabic*
- Fees: MYR 60,700☨
- Enrolment Fee: MYR 500
- In exceptional circumstances, candidates with a lower degree level, equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience may be admitted if they can demonstrate their potential for higher degree work. Contact us for more information.
- * IIUM's Arabic Placement Test (APT): 7.0, TOEFL (Paper Based): 500, IELTS: Band 5
- ☨ Fee is calculated on three years tuition for full time students including the entrance fee.
Awarding Partner and Accreditation
The MBA degree is awarded by the University of Buckingham. It is the only independent university in the UK with a Royal Charter. The University, established in 1976, has grown to be recognised as a respected seat of learning with a high regard for pedagogy and the importance of the student experience. The University of Buckingham shares OBS’s vision for an innovative, tailored online learning experience that can be further personalised with blended study options. As the validating partner, the University of Buckingham works closely with OBS to ensure the MBA programme is delivered to the highest standard, in accordance with the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
The University of Buckingham has been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rankings in the UK. The University has been consistently at or
near the top of UK rankings for student satisfaction for over 10 years. In addition to the above, the University of Buckingham has achieved:
- 1st in the UK for Teaching Excellence – Teaching Excellence Framework: Times Higher Education, 2017
- 1st for Student Satisfaction: 2017, 2018, 2019 – The Complete University Guide
- Top 4 for Student-staff Ratio – The Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide, 2019
- Ranked 5th – Accounting and Finance, Guardian University Guide, 2019
- Ranked 6th – Business, Management and Marketing, Guardian University Guide, 2019
The PhD programmes are offered and awarded by the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, also known as International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), is a public university in Malaysia. IIUM is considered one of the world's Top 5 Islamic universities and
recognised as "The Premier International Islamic Research University" by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Headquartered in Gombak, Selangor, IIUM has six other campuses all over Malaysia: two medical-centric campuses and a Centre for Foundation Studies in Gambang, Pahang,
two city campuses in Kuala Lumpur, and a language & tourism campus in Pagoh, Johor. The university was established in 1983, and it has produced more than 70,000 graduates and undergraduates from more than 100 countries around the world.
IIUM is one of the best Public universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the leading contributor of academic research in Islamic banking and finance in the world.
- Ranked the world's ranked number one (#1) contributor of academic research in Islamic banking and Finance (IBF) – ResearchGate, 2021
- Top 5% in the world by QS Ranking, 2021
- Ranked 33rd in the world for Theology, Divinity and the Religious Studies – QS Ranking, 2021
- Awarded Green Gown International Award for the Sustainability Institution of the Year – New York 2020
- King Faisal Award winning faculty – Saudi Arabia 2018
Why Us
OBS combines academic rigor and innovative technology to provide flexible and personalised learning. Some of our key features are as following:
Innovation
- Leading-edge, proprietary, AI learning technology
- Adaptive to the learning needs, style and professional skills of each student
- Web access – no specialised equipment needed for the student
- Delivered via all mobile platforms: tablets; smartphones; and wearables
- True multimedia immersive, learning environment
- Gamification and augmented-reality ready
- Learning expeditions and on-campus UK experience (optional)
- Dynamic, live tutor support (24/7)
Rigour
- Accredited by a leading Gold-TEF rated university in England
- Developed and delivered by leading academics and practitioners
- Enhanced student engagement and success through the AI platform
- Online access to millions of relevant articles and books
- Online membership of the Oxford Business Group
Flexibility
- Flexibility to study the full course at a distance or combined with an optional campus experience
- Online learning can be whenever and on any device
- MBA commencement on a rolling basis – no waiting for new semesters
- MBA can be completed in stages
- Employer dashboard (for B2B contexts)
Value
- Prestigious international academic and corporate partners to allow students to experience the world of business from a different angle
- Influential global network of alumni
- Highly competitive fees with monthly, interest-free payment options
- Financial bursaries available to meet specific needs
